Superquadrata

[fastwin]

Just another bike Ducati won't be selling me. Can't get the KTM sm off my mind. Don't want/need any more SBKs. Someone please tell me they aren't going to build that cruiser looking "thing"! That would make me scrape off all the Duc stickers on my bikes! Maybe the thought of that being built is why Lock quit DNA! Do you blame him?

[DRKWNG]

Can't get the KTM sm off my mind.

[jack]
I'll make you a good deal on my SuperDuke   
[/jack]

[fastwin]

Stop following me to different threads tormenting me with your KTM sale!!

[Monsterlover]

You're being stalked. ..

[Pip]

Per google translate:

<snip> The new twin-cylinder Ducati has therefore a very high value of boring. <snip>

There appears to be something lost in the translation.

[Privateer]

when is belt final drive coming?

[ducatiz]

I don't have a photo of it, but at the factory in Bologna there is a "technology" room which is their engine research group.  They ahve a sample of every engine ever made by Ducati (well, the motorcycle engines) that was sold on a production bike.  Not the one-offs for custom racers. 

Ducati has made a variety of engines in the last 75+ years.  I have been a little shocked that the 90 deg L twin has persisted so long.  It's like the annoying girlfriend who has goddess-like amazing oral ability, you just can't break up with her. 

I would love to see Ducati introduce at least 2 other engines in their lineup.  One would be a lightweight single, no bigger than 500cc and one would be a 4 cyl. 

There is no doubt the L-twin -- air or water cooled -- is amazing, but give them a break.  It's not heresy.  Other companies hop around engine designs every 5-7 years and do well.

[Novelo]

I don't have a photo of it, but at the factory in Bologna there is a "technology" room which is their engine research group.  They ahve a sample of every engine ever made by Ducati (well, the motorcycle engines) that was sold on a production bike.  Not the one-offs for custom racers. 

I would love to see Ducati introduce at least 2 other engines in their lineup.  One would be a lightweight single, no bigger than 500cc and one would be a 4 cyl. 

There is no doubt the L-twin -- air or water cooled -- is amazing, but give them a break.  It's not heresy.  Other companies hop around engine designs every 5-7 years and do well.

I just took my personal mecca to the Ducati factory last week. You are correct about the engine room it is small next to the Hyper and Monster assembly lines the lady said it was the R&D for engines and GP bikes. You could only look through a small window about the size of a dinner plate but it was cool being there and seeing how everything is made. On a side note there was something that rolled out the factory that is a not in current line up. Couldn't get the camera out to snap a picture plus it was all covered up with the masking and tape.

[fastwin]

Probably a Honda ridden by an employee. They were embarassed to have it on the property.

[RichD]

when is belt final drive coming?

Hopefully never.   

[Lord_Bragle]

Any more news on this?

[zarn02]

Any more news on this?

Not that I've heard.

Not that I hear much on the topic, but I am here, so I guess I'd hear it here.

And so will you!

. . .

Right. Anyway....

As I'm sure you've also read, Ducati isn't going superbike racing next year, which means something big is up.

Me? I'm pulling for a V4 with the "big-bang" firing order of the old 990 GP bike.

This wish probably won't come true, but then most of my wishes don't.

In any case, time shall tell.




(All a fancy, longwinded way to say "I don't know shit...")

[caperix]

From what I've read online the superquadrata sounds like a 2 cylinder version on the D16 4.  Ducati is a small company that can not afford to build all new engines every 2 years like the japanesse can.  The current twin is a great engine but is still based on the pantah 500 of the 80's.  Gear drive cams would be great, no more belt replacement plus that cool whine, I always loved it on the RC51. 

[Lord_Bragle]

There’s talk of the engine being rotated backwards 90°!

If it’s true it’s a revolution in more than one sense in meaning of the word ‘rotate’.  It throws up lots of interesting questions like ‘WHERE’S’ the transmission going to go??  Well it would have to go between the cylinders and it would also conveniently point back towards the rear wheel of the motorcycle and be positioned right between the L of the cylinders too.  If the transmission was positiond between the cylinders it would also be possible to take the cam drive to both cylinder heads directly from off of the clutch gear ring, it would get the cam drive conveniently way up towards and between both of the two cylinders and almost at the actual height of the cams in the cylinder heads themselves.  This would go a long way to negate the need for two long gear trains going all the way up to each of the individual cylinder heads. 

There’s absolutely tons of potential in this configuration; I’m impatient and can’t wait to see what happens. 

[Speeddog]

Seems that would make the intake and exhaust plumbing very difficult.